Pending Results and Holding My Breath

April 22, 2008 at 12:45 PM

The end of the musical year- in my solo playing- is always marked by the Naples Music Club Competition in April. I've worked my way up over the years from fifth place to second, and now I'm waiting for the results for my final year. In addition to placing in the scholarship competition, I'm also up for the Turiel Senior Scholarship, of which placing is only the first round. The second round consists of a second performance, interview, and essay and I won't know those results until late May.

I was pleased with my performance. The week before, I had something of a musical mental breakdown, and I got really frustrated and discouraged with my playing, especially my intonation. However, I was able to improve exponentially over that week and performed well- not my best but well- at the competition. The Lalo was quite good, a little lacking in enthusiasm in parts. The Paganini Caprice was also good, but I got nervous, rushing in a few places and producing a rather rough tone. Nevertheless, the intonation was very good, and all in all I am satisfied.

I got a call later in the evening from the competition, but all I know is that I moved on to the second round. I don't know where I placed or what I have to play yet; I'm waiting for the forms and adjudication sheets in the mail, which include the piece I have to play for the final round, the essay prompt, and the details for the interview as well as the judges' comments and their scores. However, I won't know where I placed until the May concert.

The college situation remains the same. I am currently trying to reach a potential teacher and comparing financial aid packages. Still weighing my options and waiting to hear back from this professor before I make any decisions.

We have our family concert for orchestra next week, followed the next day by an interview for an important college scholarship through the orchestra. This one weighs commitment and leadership in the orchestra as well as an essay and interview, and scholastic achievements, GPA, etc. All that I have to do is complete the interview. Again, waiting for more results to be announced at our end of the year concert in May....I'm going to get hit over the head with results that month!!

School is wrapping up. I only have five (big essay) assignments and a summer keyboarding class and then I'll be done with high school! My college courses end in two weeks and then I have finals...I guess school's pretty straight forward- no potential surprises pending here, that I know of. The only major thing I'm not sure about is the grade I'm going to get on my commentary on Cicero's Prima Oratio in Catilinam. We have oral presentations this week and the next, and then have to turn in the written commentary at the final. I've nearly finished it- just brushing it up and preparing to speak on it.

Also waiting to hear back from potential employers. Very few people seem to want to work with a seventeen year old. They seem to look at the online submission form and go "1991??? No way." And then delete the file and forget all about it. But hopefully a summer job will soon emerge. I'm already lined up to work as a nanny again in July and August, and I may be taking on one or two more violin students.

Almost done with the year......I'm so excited to be done with high school and get out of here! Even if I end up going to FGCU, it'll be a nice change. Now I just have to wait and see what's going to happen....

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Pending Results and Holding My Breath

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